Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi nā Francis Lacroix

Ko te hoahoa Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi nā Francis Lacroix he kaitoa whakahirahira o te 2026 A' Design Award Koura i te Wāhanga Whakataetae Hoahoa Kākahu Haumaru me ngā Taputapu Tiaki Tinana.

KouraTaputapu Tiaki· 2026

Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi

nā Francis Lacroix

Kiritaki: Royer

Kaitoa o te A' Design Award Koura i te Wāhanga Taputapu Tiaki

36,825

Kaitoa Tohu Manatokohia

Manatokohia te Tūnga Tohu mō #182031

Torohia te Pae Tirohia i te A' Design Award Pānui Pāpāho Tohu Tohu

Ngā Tae

Te Hoahoa

Mō Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi

Book Text: Kei te pūtu Xpan 2.0 tētahi hoahoanga takahanga hou i hangaia mō ngā taiao whakarewa whakauka kaha, e tika ana kia noho tahi te tiaki wera me te mahi māmā. Ka ārai tana takahanga matatau i te wera, te pāheke, me te waku i ngā wāhi ahumahi mōrearea nui. He anga rapa e ārai ana i te wera me te mura ka whakakī i te takawaenga polyurethane, e hanga ana i tētahi ārai wera whakakotahi me te kore e ngaro te ngongo ru, me te kore e tāpiri taumaha. Ko te hua, ka whakatakotohia he paerewa hou i roto i ngā tōpuku haumaru whakarewa maheke.

Te Whakamihi

Mō te A' Design Award Koura

Ko Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi te toa o te A' Design Award Koura, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke tuatahi, whakamīharo me te hiranga. Ko ngā toa Koura he mahi tino auaha, he tirohanga mamao, he kanapa ahi, e whakaatu ana i te pūmanawa, te mātauranga me te tohungatanga o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi he hanganga tūnga e whakatū ana i ngā ia, he whakanuia rawa, e kawe mai ana i te uara kāore anō kia kitea. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Koura he kaupapa whakamīharo, whakahonoretia e whakawhānui ana i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ka whakaara a Xpan 2 Primary Function: Pūtu Mahi i te hiahia nui, ka whakaoho i te kaingākau, ka whakatenatena i te auaha, ā, ka whakamīharo i a tātou.

I Muri i te Hoahoa

Kete Pāpāho

Ngā whakamihi, ngā mema o te rōpū me ngā taipitopito hangarau i whakaratohia e te kaihoahoa.

Āhuatanga Motuhake: The sole is designed in a way to encapsulate the quasi-totality of the polyurethane midsole by the heat and flame resistant rubber outsole leaving only a slight contour. Thus, offering a lighter and highly shock absorbing sole all the while providing maximal foot protection and durability.
Inenga & Pēketanga: A US size 9.0 (42 EU) pair has an approximate height of 200 mm and is built on an ergonomic shoelast designed to closely follow the natural morphology of the foot, ensuring fit precision and comfort. Each pair is packaged in a rectangular box measuring approximately 200 x 200 x 100 mm. The packaging, made from recycled and recyclable cardboard, protects the product from factory to end user.
Tūtohu: Work boot, Safety boot, Cold Weather Protection, outsole technology, extreme job sites, Metatarsal Protection, Industrial Design
Hangarau Whakanao: The design process began with exploratory hand sketches to define proportions, functional zones and visual identity. Concepts were refined using Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) to develop precise renderings and material simulations. A detailed technical drawing was then produced to guide tooling and upper manufacturing. A comprehensive tech pack ensured accurate translation of design intent into production.
Wero Hoahoa: The most complex challenge was achieving resistance to molten metal, particularly full immersion in liquid aluminum exceeding 1,000°C. Aluminum’s very low viscosity allows rapid penetration, making material selection and upper construction highly critical. The difficulty was intensified by bonding the upper to a rubber outsole through polyurethane injection, a material sensitive to heat above 150°C. Balancing extreme thermal protection with manufacturability required extensive experimentation and process control.
Rangahau: Type of Research: Experimental product R&D following a five-phase Stage-Gate methodology. Research Objectives: Improve protection, comfort, and durability in molten metal environments. Methodology: Define measurable performance criteria and validate materials against them. Data Collection and Tools: Iterative lab testing on weight, slip resistance, molten metal splash and aluminum bath immersion. Participants: Internal R&D and manufacturing teams. Results: Measurable gains across all parameters. Insights and Impacts: Enhanced safety standards, industrial reliability, and long-term value for high-risk metal processing sectors.
Whakaaweawe: The sole design draws inspiration from the aerodynamic geometry of the CF-105 Arrow developed by Avro Canada. Its triangular wing structure and directional arrow motifs informed the tread’s dynamic chevron pattern, engineered to enhance forward traction and stability. The project merges aerospace precision with industrial safety research, translating principles of thrust, grip, and structural resilience into a high-performance work boot outsole.
Roanga o te Kaupapa: The project started in January 2023 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, and was completed in December 2025. The three-year development cycle included the Definition, Design, Prototyping, and Production Implementation phases. The product was officially launched in January 2026. A continuous Monitoring and Feedback phase has been ongoing since market introduction to ensure long-term performance optimization.
Rerenga Mahi: The Xpan 2.0 boot improves upon previous generations in every critical aspect. It offers higher resistance to molten metal splash, enhanced slip protection on certified test surfaces, reduced weight, improved ergonomic fit, and greater durability against abrasion and tearing. Each performance parameter was tested and validated, demonstrating measurable progress over the previous model, already recognized as a global benchmark in primary and secondary metal processing environments.
Ngā Mema o te Rōpū: Sponsor: Simon La Rochelle
Innovation Director: Francis Lacroix
Product Developer: Vincent Blais
Project Manager: Elyzabeth Bouchard
Operations Director: Etienne Sirois
Production Technician: Brittaney La Penna
Production Technician: Simon Turk
Technical Partner: Benedetto Scarnera (SFB Srl)
Technical Partner: Felice Scarnera (SFB Srl)